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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 85 Comments · by

Washable Workwear Wednesday: Sleeveless Ponté Sheath Dress

Machine-Washable Work Clothes· Recent Recs

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A woman wearing a Sleeveless Ponté Sheath Dress.This is our second Lands’ End pick in a row — last week we posted the red knit surplice dress. This pretty flocked floral print comes in black and a royal purple and it just looks really pretty — the Lands’ End ponte sheath dress has always been a reader favorite. I think this seems distinguished and interesting without being too fancy, but I do think it’ll be a good dress for the party season. It’s machine washable and available in regular, petite, plus, and tall sizes — we’re picturing it in the plus-size version. The dress is $89-$99 at Lands’ End. Sleeveless Ponté Sheath Dress P.S. There are a number of styles in this pretty flocked floral pattern. Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear. (If you are interested in plus size workwear, please sign up for CorporettePlus, our newsletter! Signing up helps us gauge interest in the project, and we promise not to blast your email more than once a week at most. (Right now it’s more like once a month.) (L-all)

Sales of note for 11.28.23…

(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)

Kid/Family Sales

  • BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items
  • Crate & Kids – Up to 50% off everything plus free shipping sitewide; save 10% off full price items
  • J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything + free shipping
  • ErgoBaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+Stroller
  • Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
  • Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
  • Strolleria – 25% off Wonderfold wagons, and additional deals on dadada, Cybex, and Peg Perego
  • Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!

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Comments

  1. AIMS says

    Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to my baby bday post yesterday. My mom agreed to host so we will just all go to her place with the other side of the family. Question: she is vehemently anti-pizza or sandwiches (the horror!) and insists on cooking. What would be a good easy luncheon menu for a late day lunch? I would normally do bagels and lox brunch-y type spread but anything before 3 pm wont work schedule wise.

    • JayJay says

      I recently did a 3 pm birthday party for one of my kids and bought (horror!) a big catered spread from a Greek restaurant near us. It was a big hit. Big Greek salad, hummus platter with pitas/crudites, grilled chicken and steak skewers, and tzaziki sauce. All of that could be done ahead and served family style, other than cooking the skewers.

      • mom anon says

        +1 for Greek! I have done something similar with falafel, hummus, salad, and pita. I would also suggest a taco bar.

      • anne-on says

        Love this idea!

        If you have one near you, we’ve done Qdoba’s taco/burrito bar for family birthdays. Very reasonable, they set up for you, and super customizable for food preferences.

    • PhilanthropyGirl says

      We did a taco bar for my kiddo’s second birthday, and sloppy joes for the kiddos first birthday. Cooks up in large batches and stays warm in the crockpot so you can cook ahead of time.

    • anon says

      You could do something more like high tea. I personally wouldn’t expect lunch/real food after 3 pm.

      • AIMS says

        My mom refuses to have people over without a full meal. She thinks its “rude.” I am not going to fight her on this one.

        • SC says

          Haha! My mom would totally make up a rule like this, and I also would have no way to fight it. If your mom insists on cooking, I would let her serve whatever is in her wheelhouse, offer to help however you can, and bring the cake.

        • anon says

          Oh I understand. Definitely not worth a battle. But she might like the tea idea as an inspirational theme, or maybe its too hoity toity.

    • Closet Redux says

      My mother in-law’s go-to is sliders– pulled pork or brisket, cole slaw, and all the picnic fixins. Not sure if that falls into the camp of “sandwiches” since it’s served between two slices of bread, but thought if your mom’s opposition is serving something she didn’t have to slave over, she can certainly slave over sliders and mac and cheese!

  2. dc mom anon says

    Fun question: what was the best gift you received after baby? I need ideas for something wow-worthy to give to a mom that just had her second baby, first is 5 years old. Booze, restaurant gift certificates, and childcare are already taken care of, so I am thinking of some kind of item for the mom, the baby, and/or the house. Up to $300.

    • anne-on says

      Family photoshoot pre-paid with a local photographer? Bonus points if you can book it with their wedding photographer. My SIL did this for me with our first and I adore the photos.
      Otherwise, a session with merry maids? Pre-paid month (or week) with blue apron? I’ve done all of those for close friends and they’ve been very well received.

      • Maddie Ross says

        Just make sure they liked their wedding photog. I would be horrified to see mine show up again (sadly). Also, photogs that specialize in weddings often don’t do newborn/baby photo shoots as well. It’s a lovely suggestion, but I would look for a specific newborn photog for this purpose.

    • AIMS says

      A friend gave me a chain with baby’s birthstone and initial on it, which I really liked and was like a talisman for me going back to work. I think you could do something similar with both kids?

      Or maybe give a gift certificate for a photo session with a professional photographer to be used in the future? I feel like a lot of people do the hospital photo shoot but my kid looks nothing like she did at 2 days old and I’d love to have some professional pics taken of her now. Also: I feel like you can never have enough child care. I would love nothing more than for someone I trust to offer to come to my house and stay with the baby for a few hours so I could go out for a nice evening.

      • Kelly C. says

        These are great suggestions. I bought myself a necklace that was made of baby’s birthstone and mine and I love it. So not technically a gift, but I really love it (ruby and pearls, so I also lucked out that our birthstones look fab together). And trusted childcare is always welcome. ALWAYS.

    • Anon in NOVA says

      I would LOVE a gift certificate to a maid service as a post-baby gift! Then she can choose when to use it (as a treat for herself if she returns to work, before family comes in town to see the baby… whenever is best for her). I’m in the DC area and love the service I’ve gotten from maids dot com. They actually do baseboards, behind the toilets, scrub grout, vaccuum furniture… all that stuff I don’t want to spend half my weekend doing.

    • Erin S says

      So nice of you! I would love a gift certificate to a spa. This didn’t come after my baby, but when I was pregnant my husband’s friend gave me a gift certificate to get a pre natal massage. I thought it was so thoughtful and sweet. If you know a spa that your friend likes to go to you could get a $300 gift card there.

      • dc mom anon says

        These are all great! I want them for myself! This mom I have in mind has a housekeeper, so cooking and cleaning is taken care of. That’s what is making this so hard.

        • Anon in NOVA says

          Oh jeez, that DOES make it hard. I’d agree with everyone who said photographer then maybe? Seems more unique than a spa.

    • PhilanthropyGirl says

      I am utterly in love with Earth Mama Angel Baby products – while it wouldn’t fill your whole budget, it would make a lovely gift basket along with cleaning gift certificates, baby sitting, or personal care gift certificates for a favorite spa or salon.

    • anon says

      Keepsakes, like engraved silver picture frame, special christmas ornament, etc. Maybe because I was on a tight budget and super practical about purchases when my son was born, receiving luxuries like this was really special.

    • ChiLaw says

      This is not even close to the whole of your budget, but my sister arranged for a local bakery to deliver a huge box of cookies to my house about 2 days after we got back from the hospital. There were definitely tears of joy. (I know ‘cooking’ is taken care of, but surely luxurious cookies are different!)

      • avocado says

        I would have cried over cookies too. Or one of those ridiculous overpriced fruit bouquet things.

        • Anon in NYC says

          I once received an Edible Arrangement as a gift and *loved* it. I feel like people in my circle sort of make fun of them, but it was SO nice to have already cut up, fresh fruit on hand.

          • SC says

            I also loved the post-baby Edible Arrangement I received. It was great being able to walk past it and just grab a piece of cantaloupe on a stick.

          • Anon in NOVA says

            Edible arrangements are a joke in my family… remember that episode of “Flipping Out” on bravo where he stopped working with a client because she sent an edible arrangement? Anyway, my son- who loves fruit- had surgery a few months ago and we all bit our words and my mom sent an edible arrangement. It was amazing to have all that prepared fruit and he liked eating it off the sticks!

      • Jdubs says

        Zingermans makes a “midnight feeding care” gift box with some fun luxury type food items.

    • Jlg says

      I would have loved a gift card to a favorite department store or clothing shop so I could have treated myself to real clothes during that interim time that we’re stretchy and nursing friendly. A store with online shopping would be ideal for convenience.

      • shortperson says

        if you know her well you could pick out a nice nursing outfit. like an isabella olivier nursing top or dress. i also apprecitated bamboobies and nipple balm.

  3. Anon says

    Silly questions and I’m borrowing trouble but could use some advice. I’m 8 mos pregnant with our first and stressed already about the return from mat leave. I have this urge that I will want to stay home after she’s born, and I feel a lot of guilt and conflict over it. Many friends have said they enjoyed mat leave but were happy to get back to the office. I so want that urge to return to work to kick in but I’m afraid it won’t because I haven’t been motivated at all in my job since becoming pregnant. Did anyone else worry about this? Did the urge to return to work kick in for you?

    • Anon for this says

      I decided to quit my job while on maternity leave (I called as soon as I had my change of heart, to give work as much time to plan as possible, but I knew it was the right choice for my family). I am still at home, a year later, though I have picked up some minor freelance work that came my way.

      Why do you feel guilt? Financially, yes we’ve had to give up most extras and our savings is mainly limited to retirement/some college right now, but that is okay with me. I am really, really happy with my choice. My husband and I were recently reflecting on how surprisingly “easy” and fun our baby’s first year has been, and I think it’s largely because we have structured our lives in a way that prioritizes time with family. It’s not for everyone, of course, but if you are leaning this way, I think it’s pretty great!

      • Anon OP says

        I feel guilt because I’m an attorney in a male-dominated firm and if I left then I’d be contributing to the lousy culture here. But I’d also feel some guilt in my relationship. I’ve been the breadwinner for years and just recently that changed where DH makes similar to what I do. But thanks for this perspective!

    • Anon in NOVA says

      It’s really hard to know how you’re going to feel until you’re there. Those nesting hormones are kicking in right now and of course you can’t imagine doing anything else. I truly expected myself to be the SAHM type, but I surprised myself. I almost HAVE to work for my mental health. You just never know until you’re there. It’s impossible to tell a pregnant woman to not think ahead and not “borrow trouble”, at least it was for me, but just enjoy the maternity leave and then see where you stand, you might surprise yourself :)

      • Anon in NYC says

        I agree with this. You really won’t know until you’re in the thick of it. At 8 or 10 weeks, I didn’t want to go back to work. By 14 weeks, I was ready.

        • Anonymous says

          I was so sad to go back, but finances (and marital harmony) necessitated my return to work around the 16 week mark, so I did. And in the year or so since, I’ve never been as motivated at work as I was pre-pregnancy, but it’s still going okay. And I definitely still find myself thinking probably at least once a week that I’d be happier as a stay-at-home mom and I just get this longing feeling wishing that was possible for us. And then every once in awhile, my young toddler drives me a little insane for an hour or so at the end of a Sunday, and I realize that if I was a stay-at-home mom, I’d probably be insane way more often and not have a real reprieve to give me a break from it. So then I realize that I’m probably better off being a working mom!

          I don’t think anything about motherhood is easy – there are so many trade-offs, but boy is it worth it.

    • AIMS says

      You don’t know how you will feel being home. I didn’t think I’d want to stay home, admittedly, then I was sad to go back and now I wouldn’t trade being able to go to work. Honestly, I took a vacation this summer and was joking about how I wanted to go to work for just a few hours to check my email and eat lunch in piece. Give yourself time to adjust and then revisit.

    • Anon says

      Why not explore options now? You’ll feel empowered knowing more about what a few options would really look like:
      – Option 1 – What does not going back from mat leave really mean. Carefully examine your finances to see if it CAN be done – can you do it if you cut back? what are you/partner really willing to cut back? What are the realistic ramifications of not going back from maternity leave at your organization? This will either give you comfort that it can be done and you just wait and see how you feel after baby knowing you CAN do it, or go to option 2 —

      – Option 2 – if you truly cannot choose to stay home after leave, then start putting pieces together to job hunt for something else. Figure out what the lowest salary you need to keep your ship afloat, and start looking at job boards for more flexible schedules. Put a date on the calendar for one month after you return from maternity leave to get back into job searching.

      I knew I wasn’t going to want to go back to my extremely stressful position, and that feeling did not go away on maternity leave. I did go back, but only to make sure I was “sure.” We were not in a position for me to go to zero income, so I started job hunting in earnest as soon as I got back. My husband and I also agreed on a runway of six months to find something new before we agreed we’d go “nuclear” and look at taking more drastic measures for me to stay home (basically downsizing by selling our house and moving farther out of our city). I applied for crazy jobs — online editor of a children’s magazine, etc. I ultimately ended up finding something in a related field but with fewer hours, and I”m still here several years later. FWIW, I still have the urge to stay home completely, and we are going to re-examine again in 2017.

    • PhilanthropyGirl says

      We’re all so different – I never wanted to return to work but financially that was not an option for my family. If you find yourself in that situation, I encourage you to look for ways to ease back into work – I chose to work a few limited hours from home during the end of my life and then had a big event to return to shortly after my leave. These things made it easier to transition from being at home to being at work, and also gave me some purpose when I first got back to the office. It wasn’t so much an urge to return to work as finding a purpose for returning to work – financially it was necessary, and I saw things I could do to help my company that helped me get through the early days of being at work. There were tears, but it got easier.

      Take it one day at a time – being pregnancy crushed a lot of motivation for me – I didn’t feel well a lot, I was stressed during my pregnancy due to a previous loss, third trimester is exhausting. Postpartum you’ll eventually start feeling like yourself and that motivation will probably return.

      • PhilanthropyGirl says

        End of my leave. Not my life. My life didn’t end… just my leave. Oh where is that edit button!

    • anon says

      I did not like being at home and was glad to get back to work, because I was desperate to feel like me again. (The reality of it was not all I hoped – it was bizarre, trying to reconcile the feel that I was still me and also had a baby that sometimes I’d forget for a minute since I was not with him). But I didn’t expect to feel that way before my son was born. I think it’s unpredictable, and your feelings may change throughout your child’s life.

    • Introvert says

      Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I think staying at home would be much easier for an extrovert as long as you can get involved in a bunch of mommy and me type activities.

      Something I didn’t really understand before I had a kid was parents complaining about being tired. I thought that once your kid slept through the night there would be no reason to be tired. I didn’t understand how draining it would be to have to be hands on and “on” for your child every waking moment from the time they’re born until some age where they are self-aware enough to not accidentally kill themselves. It is exhausting. I’m an introvert and after a day alone with my daughter, I just want to go into a dark room by myself and hide. I love her and I love being a mom, but it is so tiring. If I had to be alone with her all day every day I would lose my mind or become one of those 1950s housewives addicted to valium. Work is my oasis. I can sit in my office alone in peace and it’s wonderful.

      Going back to work was obviously the right choice for me, but if the idea of spending all day long with a baby or toddler sounds great to you, then maybe going back to work is not the right choice for you. Or maybe going back part time to keep your toe in the water? There are lots of options and you have to do what is right for you.

      • H says

        This is an interesting perspective to me. I’m an extrovert and I assumed introverts would have it easier being at home with kids since they don’t have to expend energy interacting with adults, but this totally makes sense.

        • NewMomAnon says

          Oh man, spending a whole day “on” with my kid is one of the hardest things this introvert does. And she’s an extrovert, so it’s not just “both of us sit and play quietly” – it’s “mommy, look at this! mommy, read this book! mommy, you not paying attention to me!”

          • RDC says

            Another introvert here, and I feel the same way on weekends. My kiddo just talks all. the. time. And he’s not even two, so not really talking, but if he doesn’t have the words he just jabbers on in toddler language. Most of the time he wants you to engage, and it’s exhausting. Also, +1 to the having to be constantly alert that he doesn’t accidentally kill himself. He doesn’t really do calm/quiet time ever, he just seems to run around non-stop from the time he wakes up until he falls asleep again.

        • EB0220 says

          It is really exhausting. This is why I use TV judiciously and enforce a rest time on the weekend (even if they don’t sleep). Otherwise I will be so run down by the end of the day.

    • Another R says

      In my experience motivation (or lack thereof) during pregnancy has minimal bearing on how one will feel once the baby is born.

  4. Stc says

    I love the ponte sheath from Lands End. But I haven’t been happy with the results when I wash and air dry even followed by steaming. I just picked up another in gray (considering the loden) with codes that made it about 39 bucks and I’m considering only dry cleaning it. Am I crazy?

    • Coach Laura says

      My three pointe LE dresses say “do not dry clean” on care label.

      I have good results putting mine in dryer on delicate for 5-10 minutes maximum then hanging to dry fully. It smooths out wrinkles and gets rid of lint.

  5. PinkKeyboard says

    Soooo IVF definitely worked. They saw one baby at the first ultrasound…. went back yesterday and apparently the second baby got lost and finally found directions. So now we have twins in there!

  6. CPA Lady says

    So, you know how I came on here yesterday all excited about having ordered our traditional thanksgiving food from a local caterer? And how it was going to be so easy, without anyone going to the grocery store or cooking a bunch of stuff? My husband decided last night that it would be a great idea to invite his mom to our house for thanksgiving. She’s on the vegan end of vegetarian.

    Our conversation last night:
    Him: When is the deadline to order that food for Thanksgiving? Or have you already ordered it?
    Me: I ordered it today.
    Him: Can you order some more food for my mom?
    Me: It’s not even vegetarian.
    Him: Oh. I didn’t think about that.
    Me: *head explodes*

    I already checked, and other than tomato soup, this caterer does not have any vegetarian meals. It’s all pretty much down home Southern/middle American cooking. So now we have to go to the store and buy foods to cook a vegan thanksgiving dinner for my MIL. And by “we” I mean “he”. So much for an easy thanksgiving! At least I like my MIL.

    • anne-on says

      Does her version of vegan mean no butter/eggs? If not, trader joes does pretty good heat/serve versions of green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes. That plus some roasted veggies would make me pretty happy as a guest.

      • CPA Lady says

        I don’t live anywhere close to a trader joes, (tragically!), but that’s a good idea to check grocery stores for pre-made stuff.

    • Anonymous says

      Field Roast, which I think they sell at Whole Foods, is what we typically do for my vegan sister for Thanksgiving.

      • Wow says

        Please don’t do this. Rude to invite someone to your house for T-giving and only give them soup. Whole Foods has lots of vegan options.

    • anon says

      Whole Foods in my area has a fully prepared vegan thanksgiving dinner for 1 available to order for $19.99

  7. Anonymous says

    My former neighbor recently had a baby pass away. The mom was admitted to the hospital 28 weeks pregnant, and a few days later, the baby’s heartbeat stopped. Labor was then induced, there was nothing they could do, and there are two kids at home (toddler and elementary school aged). Pretty sure mom has been discharged. I’d like to do something for the family, but we aren’t terribly close. Any suggestions? TIA.

    • NewMomAnon says

      Send food (I mean, she basically went through labor so she’s needing that kind of support), send a card saying “thinking of you” with contact information if she feels like reaching out? That sounds like a really lonely place.

    • anne-on says

      Send food, and a card or text offering your condolences and something concrete for support (can I run to the grocery store for you, babysit the kids for an afternoon, etc.)

    • Anonymous says

      I’d send a card and flowers. Also, my mom lost a baby and her next door neighbor at the time has sent a card and flowers every year on the date he was born since that day (27 years ago). It sounds like you are not that close, but putting that story out there into the universe for others. For my close friends whose parents have passed away, I mark it on the calendar and send them a card every year letting them know I’m thinking of them. Grief never really ends and it’s nice when others acknowledge that.

  8. Coach Laura says

    PSA -Landsend has a 50% off one item today only. Code TAKE50 pin 1384

    • Anon in NOVA says

      OOO thanks for the tip! I was looking at the charcoal sheath and thinking I’d wait until it was on sale… no time like the present!

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